El Sauzal Amigo Blog

Director Josue and wife Lilia give everything they have to care for the Orphanage children

I’m writing this from Mexico, where the El Sauzal Foundation, Inc. has been meeting.  (This is my first blog actually posted from Mexico!)  We have had two full, busy, exhausting days.  Hot meeting rooms, long hours, working through nitty gritty details, and dreaming about where the Orphanage is going in the future.  It has been draining, but fulfilling.

Near the end of day today, Josue and Erika addressed our group.  They spoke honestly of the joys and hardships of their ministry.  Just this month, Josue used all of his salary to pay for graduation expenses for various children and college fees for Ramiro. Both Josue and Erika have so little available money, they were concerned with having enough gas to make it to the meeting, only fifteen minutes from the Orphanage.  Yet, when Erika talked with the group, she thanked us.  Her words were powerful to me.

“Thank you that you are doing your best and we know.  I think we’re [the Orphanage and Foundation] doing great. 

We’re used to this.  We’re used to not having money.  It is frustrating.  It is stressful.  But God provides.  Keep doing what you’re doing and God will do the rest.”

Clay Warren, Foundation board member and youth pastor of Tacoma Christian Reformed Community Church, opened up a Bible and read Matthew 6:25-34,

“..do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear….Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow.”

I am deeply humbled by the faith that my Mexican friends have.  I have always known that the leaders of the Orphanage have a deep, strong faith.  For some reason, though, today it hit home more powerfully.  Their’s is a faith I strive to have.  I pray that I can learn from their example.

Assistant director Erika loves the children with all of her heart

Jim Cherry, Ruffo, Erika and Patty Meadows at the reception

The Dessert Reception honoring Ruffo and Erika took place tonight.  SeaTac Bible Church, decorated for a week of Fiesta Vacation Bible School, held the happy gathering.  About fifty people were in attendance, representing at least five different churches.

After a relaxed time of greeting, desserts were served.  There were several delicious postres (desserts) to choose from - layered chocolate cake, a berry cheesecake, fruit tarts, macadamia nut tarts, and rich Hawaiian kiwi orange pie.  The desserts were provided by Costco, Metropolitan Market, and Rona Kahue.  Refreshments included punch, water and coffee from Tully’s.

Clay Warren speaking; Erika with Rebecca Adams & Ada

Clay Warren, El Sauzal Foundation board member and youth pastor of Tacoma Christian Reformed Church, began the program by sharing some of his reflections of the Orphanage.  He told a funny story of how his driver’s license was taken away on his first trip to the Orphanage.  Then a humble Ruffo and Erika spoke about their work, and their gratitude for the help of those in attendance.  The new Orphanage DVD was also shown.

Longtime Orphanage friends, Reverend Craig and Rebecca Adams, drove with their four little children a few hours to visit with Ruffo and Erika.  They shared great stories of adventures crossing the border with large truckloads of food.  They also got a hotel room, and attended church with Ruffo and Erika, on Sunday.

At the end of the reception, friends of the Orphanage donated a generous $1655.  It was an enjoyable time.

Ruffo and Erika on a hot, fun evening

Orphanage kid Ricardo with Ruffo

You are cordially invited to

A Dessert Reception

in honor of

Erika Espinoza and her husband Ruffo

Assistant Directors of the El Sauzal Orphanage

Saturday, June 24th, 6 p.m.

At SeaTac Bible Church, Auburn, Washington (click for directions)

Have a chance to talk with Erika and Ruffo and celebrate their work!

For more information, call Kim McManus at (253) 351-0971.

Sergio with Roy at the Orphange one week ago

Have you met Roy Ketring, III?  He is the U.S. face of the El Sauzal Orphanage.  If you have arranged a trip to El Sauzal, you most likely have been in contact with Roy.  If you have visited the Orphanage, you may have met him there.  If you have surfed El Sauzal’s website, received an Orphanage Christmas photo card, purchased an Orphanage t-shirt, mug or cap, you have seen Roy’s dedicated, hard work.  Roy’s hand is all over the Orphanage.

Roy is a retired railroad consultant, although he still does occassional consulting jobs.  He and his wife Brenda live in Placentia, California.  They have two children and five grandchildren, whom they care for frequently.  Roy is heavily involved in his church, Placentia Presbyterian with the Orphanage ministry, including their biannual food distribution to the San Antonio de las Mianas community, a second ministry to Mexico in Vizcaino - southern Baja, and a local outreach ministry to Spanish speakers in the Placentia area. 

Roy has been involved with the Orphanage since 1978.  On his first trip, he did not want to go; someone invited him, and he went out of a sense of duty. The trip changed him.  For many years, Roy has been the Orphanage’s Secretary.  He has been deeply involved in the operations.  He is a part of the Espinoza family. (And even right now, he is in Mexico, for the service for Juan.  See Juan Passes Away.)  At Juan’s service yesterday, Ramon talked about how Roy is so much a part of the community and the family.

Several years ago, Josue asked Roy to form a Foundation in the United States.   Roy considered it seriously.  He did not want to change the Orphanage and make it a U.S.-run entity.  It was after much prayer and consultation with other U.S. Orphanage friends that Roy went ahead with the creation of the Foundation.  (Read more at About the El Sauzal Foundation, Inc.)  Now Roy is the president of the Foundation.

So what does retirement look like for Roy?  Taking care of Orphanage donations, requests and questions is a full time job for Roy.  He works at the Orphanage (a three hour drive) at least once a month for an extended weekend.  And of course there are many other events, like Juan’s service, birthdays and weddings.  Although it is not possible to truly thank Roy for all of his hard work and time, I am so grateful for his generous heart and dedicated service to the Orphanage.

Leslie & Bob, savvy donors who visited the Orphanage this last weekend

There’s a very interesting article posted on the Charity Navigator, the Top 10 Best Practices of Savvy Donors.  The practices are:

1. Be proactive in your giving

2. Hang up the phone/eliminate the middleman

3. Be careful of imposters and sound-alike names

4. Confirm 501(c)(3) status

5. Check the charity’s commitment to donor’s rights

6. Obtain copies of its financial records

7. Review executive compensation

8. Start a dialogue to investigate its programmatic results

9. Concentrate your giving

10. Share your intentions and make a long-term commitment

The job of the El Sauzal Foundation, Inc. is to help our donors get the information they need to be savvy.  So let us know what you want…email your questions to Patty.Meadows@elsauzal.org.